Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-30
OUR CATTLE QUEENS.
Eight Hundred of Them Raising
Herds in Colorado.

Herds i'm Colorado.
care you personally acquainted
with many women engaged in the
business of cattle raising?" asked the
reporter.
The cattleman gave long whistle.
"Well, l should think so," he said.
"I've studied them for years. You
want to know what kind of women
they are? I'll tell you what sort they
are, young man; they're ladies', that's
what they are. Now, l don't mean
by that that they would be afraid OF
soiling their hands if occa-
sion required; no, indeed; nor
of doing charitable action
which would necessitate some personal
exposure on their part, for they are
generous to fault. What | mean to
say is, that they are as rule refined
and intelligent women, who read and
think and are capable of making a
good appearance in society. don't
know as | have ever seen one of them
who is phenominally intellectual,
outside OF the judgment they exercise
in the stock business, which is phe-
nominal. Most OF them have a genius
for business, and nine-tenths of them
know how to appear in drawing
room.
In most instances they are rich
and know well how to use their money
to advantage so as to get the most
good out of life. Many of them are
wives and mothers, and when they
are such | assure you they are both
wise and kind. You will find that
they rule their households with firm
hands, and that their husbands and
childrens, to use the biblical express
sion. rise up and call them blessed
"Stock women are much like 9TH
ers, save that they have wider judg-
ment on practical subjects. They are
thoroughly business like, because
they appreciate the vast interests
which they have at stake, and the
quick conception with which all
women are gifted enables them to see
clearly what the inevitable results
would be OF one false move. They
know that their decisions must be
well weighed; that they must act
only under the most careful consider
alton, and that once having acted
they must abide by their decision
with a calm answering spirit. 1t is
a good training school for woman.
1t takes all that idiotic nonsense about
nerves out of her and gives her brain
cool, common sense poise which
many a man might envy.
GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES.
81 know of no position in life which
l had rather my daughters would fill.
1t is one burdened with great respon-
sibilities, of course, but what mode of
life is not where there is anything to
be gained? l assure you should not
consider that clear understanding of
the cattle business interfered in any
way with the refinement of those
whom l hold most dear"
"But you have doubtless met stock
women of directly opposite class,
have you not ?"
ooh, yes, there are necessarily ex-
ceptions to all rules. The uncouth
woman of the ranch, who rounds up
her own herds and who sleeps in the
saddle, is not altogether a creature of
the imagination. Uncouth and igno-
rant she may be, but she is always a
good woman, and one whom all the
cowboys respect. know several in
stances where the women can swing
a lariat like man, and know quite
we'll how to manage herd. A very
few of them personally supervise their
own animals, however, and these, in
most instances, are those who have
not as yet accumulated much wealth,
although there are some very rich
cattle women in Colorado who ride
after their own herds. A woman usu-
ally manages her cattle through a
foreman, whom she often supplies
with brain power. She does not usu-
ally live on the ranch, but rather in a
handsome house in some neighboring
town. But, all the same. she is the
bone and sinew of the business. Her
clear head manages it all, and it is
her directions that her fore
man always proceeds. She often
spends the summer on the ranch,
where comfortable dwelling is fitted |
up for her, much on the order of an
English shooting box.
NoTEAsILY WON.
"You want to know something
about the unmarried women who are |
great stock raisers. Well, the main |
thing that can be said for them is,
that men of position and prominence |
everywhere want to marry them, not |
purely out of money considerations |
either, for some of these unmarried |
stock women have fund of good |
sense and useful intelligence which
cannot be eclipsed, and besides this,
many of them are quite accomplished |
and good looking. But few of them
are past their youth, and they have a
,hrewd way of looking at things,
which augurs i'll for the stranger who /
ooks with longing eyes upon their
aocks and herds.
have gone into the stock |
business" concluded the cattle
man, through direct line of inheri-
is, they have inherited
small herds, vast ones, or taste and
inclination for the life. l know of |
numerous instances where father |
has died leaving his daughter very |
small herd, and she has gone steadily |
on with it, making thousands where
her father made hundred Of dollars.
Again, there are widows who have |
come into possession of vast stock in
terests through the death of their hus-
bands, and who have managed the
business left to them until the receipts |
run away up in the millions.
81 know resolute women too, who |
began without dollar, and who have
gained wealth and standing in the
stock business. The most highly |
novel sight ever saw was fourteen |
year old girl herding cate away up in
Montana, with only her little brother
to assist her. The father of these two
children had died, leaving them a
small herd of cattle, and l would be
willing to wager my last dollar that
that little brown skinned girl away up |